Unit 1 - Area of study 1 - representation...
This area of study focuses on an analysis of media representations and how such representations depict, for example, events, people, places, organisations and ideas. Students learn that media texts are created through a process of selection, construction and representation. Representations of events, ideas and stories, which may appear natural and realistic, are mediated and constructed in ways that are different from the audience’s direct experience of reality. Students develop an understanding of how media representations are subject to multiple readings by audiences who construct meaning based on a range of personal, contextual, social and institutional factors. Representation involves the selection of images, words, sounds and ideas and the ways in which these are presented, related and ordered. Media codes and conventions, together with such factors as degrees of intended realism, the cultural and historical context of the production and institutional practices, help shape a product’s structure and meaning. Media products are approached in terms of how they are constructed for different purposes, their distribution and the ways audiences may read representations within them.
outcome 1...
On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe the construction of specific media representations and explain how the process of representation reproduces the world differently from direct experience of it.
And to the right is the assessment rubric for this outcome...
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REPRESENTATION V'S REALITY
Have a look at the presentation below and write a short reflection discussing the different ways each celebrity is represented...
representation_vs_reality.ppt | |
File Size: | 1198 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
Codes & conventions
Watch the video below to see how codes and conventions are embedded in the media that surrounds us...
WHAT IS A CODE?
In Media Studies, the word ‘code’ refers to any system of signs that are used to communicate meaning. When you think about the real world, we are surrounded by signs: traffic lights, written language, mathematics, clothing, body language.
WHAT IS A CONVENTION?
Conventions are well-established ways of constructing texts
Consider the front page of a newspaper. The name of the newspaper will feature prominently at the top of the page. Beneath this, we have a number of articles. It is a convention of newspapers that the most important news is placed on the front page. Indeed, the most important articles appear closer to the top of the page than the less important stories. Headlines are another convention of newspapers which tell readers what the article is about. Hard news articles which appear on the cover of newspapers are usually written in in a particular style, often known as an inverted pyramid which features all of the important information first. The important aspects of a story – who, what, when, where, why – are usually included in the lead or introductory paragraph. Photographs will usually be accompanied by a caption to explain their significance.
Here is a good definition to help solidify your understanding of the concept: “As a type of film or television develops, filmmakers and directors find certain techniques that become useful or effective in creating texts. These techniques get used again and again, and eventually they are associated with and are used to define certain types of texts. The techniques then become known as conventions.”
In Media Studies, the word ‘code’ refers to any system of signs that are used to communicate meaning. When you think about the real world, we are surrounded by signs: traffic lights, written language, mathematics, clothing, body language.
WHAT IS A CONVENTION?
Conventions are well-established ways of constructing texts
Consider the front page of a newspaper. The name of the newspaper will feature prominently at the top of the page. Beneath this, we have a number of articles. It is a convention of newspapers that the most important news is placed on the front page. Indeed, the most important articles appear closer to the top of the page than the less important stories. Headlines are another convention of newspapers which tell readers what the article is about. Hard news articles which appear on the cover of newspapers are usually written in in a particular style, often known as an inverted pyramid which features all of the important information first. The important aspects of a story – who, what, when, where, why – are usually included in the lead or introductory paragraph. Photographs will usually be accompanied by a caption to explain their significance.
Here is a good definition to help solidify your understanding of the concept: “As a type of film or television develops, filmmakers and directors find certain techniques that become useful or effective in creating texts. These techniques get used again and again, and eventually they are associated with and are used to define certain types of texts. The techniques then become known as conventions.”
scene_from__scream__the_rules_for_surviving_horror_films.mp4 | |
File Size: | 6472 kb |
File Type: | mp4 |
Symbolic and Cultural Codes
Read pg 8 of textbook.
-Complete learning activity on page 8.
Visual Codes
Read pg 8-10 of textbook.
-Complete learning Activity on page 10.
Read pg 8 of textbook.
-Complete learning activity on page 8.
Visual Codes
Read pg 8-10 of textbook.
-Complete learning Activity on page 10.
Gender Stereotypes in advertising
Download the presentation below and complete the tasks on the final slide...
gender_stereotypes_task.ppt | |
File Size: | 2338 kb |
File Type: | ppt |
Advertising frequently relies on gender stereotyping to sell products. The disparity between how men and women are represented in television commercials is brilliantly satirised in this sketch by comedias Mitchell and Webb.
Here are just a few examples of how men and women are often stereotyped in television advertisements:
Here are just a few examples of how men and women are often stereotyped in television advertisements:
OBJECTIFICATION
In advertisements targeted at men, women are often objectified to sell objects. This can be seen in advertisements like Spray More, Get More and Spot and Share. In some cases, women are reduced to mere body parts like legs or breasts.
Check out this clip discussing the way women are represented through digital enhancements.
THE HOMEMAKER
If you thought representations of women as homemakers are something from the 1950s, think again. Women are often represented as housewives and mothers whether scrubbing germs from their child’s hands or scrubbing toilet bowls despite an abundance of family members who could be helping.
DOPEY DAD
Or dopey husband. Or dopey boyfriend. Being a man in a commercial means that you’repretty much clueless and irresponsible, especially when it comes to housework. This stereotype is brilliantly lampooned by Sarah Haskins in Target Women: Doofy Husbands.
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Describe how gender is represented in these commercials referring, where appropriate, to codes such as clothing, colour, music, acting, camera techniques, mise en scene, editing, lighting and sound.
Objectification: Spray More, Get More, Spot and Share, Lynx, Godaddy Marketing.
The Homemaker: Dettol, Magic Eraser, Ajax Spray and Wipe, Shower Power Blossom, NRL Women.
Dopey Dad: Vanish Napisan Power Shots, Glade Sense and Spray, T-Mobile Smart Guys, Libra Invisible Pads.
Extension task - FURTHER READING: 101 Shockingly Sexist Vintage Ads, The 5 most insulting ways products are advertised to men.
In advertisements targeted at men, women are often objectified to sell objects. This can be seen in advertisements like Spray More, Get More and Spot and Share. In some cases, women are reduced to mere body parts like legs or breasts.
Check out this clip discussing the way women are represented through digital enhancements.
THE HOMEMAKER
If you thought representations of women as homemakers are something from the 1950s, think again. Women are often represented as housewives and mothers whether scrubbing germs from their child’s hands or scrubbing toilet bowls despite an abundance of family members who could be helping.
DOPEY DAD
Or dopey husband. Or dopey boyfriend. Being a man in a commercial means that you’repretty much clueless and irresponsible, especially when it comes to housework. This stereotype is brilliantly lampooned by Sarah Haskins in Target Women: Doofy Husbands.
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Describe how gender is represented in these commercials referring, where appropriate, to codes such as clothing, colour, music, acting, camera techniques, mise en scene, editing, lighting and sound.
Objectification: Spray More, Get More, Spot and Share, Lynx, Godaddy Marketing.
The Homemaker: Dettol, Magic Eraser, Ajax Spray and Wipe, Shower Power Blossom, NRL Women.
Dopey Dad: Vanish Napisan Power Shots, Glade Sense and Spray, T-Mobile Smart Guys, Libra Invisible Pads.
Extension task - FURTHER READING: 101 Shockingly Sexist Vintage Ads, The 5 most insulting ways products are advertised to men.
Representations of Places - TOurismNo doubt you will be familiar with many ad campaigns that have been aired over recent years to promote Australian Tourism.
Supposedly these ads tell the rest of the world what they can expects from a visit to Australia. But of course we know that this is simply a representation of our country which has been carefully constructed through the use of technical and symbolic codes with a specific audience in mind. Learning Activity
Extension Task 13. Find alternative representations of Australia? How else could Australia be represented? |
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Representations of youth
We will view the opening sequence of the following films;
Learning Activity:
When watching each of the films, complete a Character Profile for each of the characters.
- The Breakfast Club
- Mean Girls
- 10 Things I Hate About You
Learning Activity:
When watching each of the films, complete a Character Profile for each of the characters.
the breakfast club'(1985)
They were five students with nothing in common, faced with spending a Saturday detention together in their high school library. At 7 a.m., they had nothing to say, but by 4 p.m., they had bared their souls to each other and become good friends. To the outside world they were simply a Brain, an Athlete, a Basket Case, a Princess, and a Criminal, but to each other, they would always be the Breakfast Club.
Director: John Hughes
Writer: John Hughes
Cast:
Emilio Estevez...Andrew Clark
Paul Gleason...Richard Vernon
Anthony Michael Hall...Brian Johnson
John Kapelos...Carl
Judd Nelson...John Bender
Molly Ringwald...Claire Standish
Ally Sheedy...Allison Reynolds
Director: John Hughes
Writer: John Hughes
Cast:
Emilio Estevez...Andrew Clark
Paul Gleason...Richard Vernon
Anthony Michael Hall...Brian Johnson
John Kapelos...Carl
Judd Nelson...John Bender
Molly Ringwald...Claire Standish
Ally Sheedy...Allison Reynolds
LEARNING ACTIVITY
1) Create a character analysis for each of the five protagonists. Structure your information in a table with separate columns for each of the following technical or symbolic codes:
Name Stereotype Appearance Attitude Behaviour Values
2) MTV was a popular show with youth audiences in the 1980’s. How do you think MTV might have consciously or unconsciously influenced the content and representations in The Breakfast Club?
3) Do you think some traits in the representations have been exaggerated? If yes, why do you think the characters have been presented in this way?
4) Which character/s do you most identify with? Which do you most like and dislike and why?
5) In what ways do you think the representations of the characters and the school are similar or different to other representations you have seen?
6) What social attitudes or values can you see in some of the character representations?
1) Create a character analysis for each of the five protagonists. Structure your information in a table with separate columns for each of the following technical or symbolic codes:
Name Stereotype Appearance Attitude Behaviour Values
2) MTV was a popular show with youth audiences in the 1980’s. How do you think MTV might have consciously or unconsciously influenced the content and representations in The Breakfast Club?
3) Do you think some traits in the representations have been exaggerated? If yes, why do you think the characters have been presented in this way?
4) Which character/s do you most identify with? Which do you most like and dislike and why?
5) In what ways do you think the representations of the characters and the school are similar or different to other representations you have seen?
6) What social attitudes or values can you see in some of the character representations?
Mean girls (2004)
Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
Director:Mark Waters
Director:Mark Waters
REPRESENTATIONS OF YOUTH IN 'dogtown & z boys'(2001)
A documentary film directed by Stacy Peralta. Using a mix of film the Zephyr skateboard team shot in the 1970s by Craig Stecyk and more recent interviews, the documentary tells the story of a group of teenage surfer/skateboarders and their influence on the history of skateboarding (and to a lesser extent surfing) culture. The film is narrated by Sean Penn.
Directed by Stacy Peralta
Writing credits Stacy Peralta & Craig Stecyk
Cast:
Sean Penn...Narrator (voice)
Jay Adams...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Tony Alva...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Stacy Peralta...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Wentzle Ruml...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Peggy Oki...Herself - Zephyr Skate Team
Shogo Kubo...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Directed by Stacy Peralta
Writing credits Stacy Peralta & Craig Stecyk
Cast:
Sean Penn...Narrator (voice)
Jay Adams...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Tony Alva...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Stacy Peralta...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Wentzle Ruml...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
Peggy Oki...Herself - Zephyr Skate Team
Shogo Kubo...Himself - Zephyr Skate Team
LEARNING ACTIVITY
Answer the following questions...
Answer the following questions...
- Who is being represented in ‘Dogtown and Z Boys’?
- Explain how Zephyr surfboards reflected / represented Dogtown.
- How would you describe the attitude of the Dogtown surfers and skaters?
- Describe how Dogtown of the late 60’s / early 70’s is represented to the viewer.
- Use adjectives to describe the appearance of the Zephyr kids.
- Why do you think ‘style was everything’ to the Zephyr skaters?
- What editing techniques have been used to help represent the style and lifestyle of the Zephyr skaters?
- Why do you think the contemporary interview footage is shot in black and white while most of the archival footage is in colour
- Why were the Zephyr skaters viewed as ‘outsiders’ by the other competitors at the ‘Del Mar’ skate contest?
- Why do you think skaters have been so heavily influenced by the way the Zephyr team were represented in the media, particularly in Magazines such as ‘Skateboarder’?
- Ultimately, what was the representation saying about the youths in this film?